HISTORY OF GAUGE 3
About Gauge 3
Gauge ‘3’ (or N° 3, as 2½" gauge was originally known) was one of five standard model gauges recommended by a subcommittee of the Society of Model Engineers on February 1st, 1899, making this gauge now a century old. At the time, 2½” gauge allowed the construction of fairly successful and reasonably to-scale live-steam locomotives. Number ‘3’ gauge provided enjoyment to those who could afford such indulgences during this period.
Bing and Carette, both Nürnburg-based German toy manufactures, provided locomotives and rolling stock for these standardised gauges, but it was W. J. Bassett-Lowke (who later provided the sole British outlet for German-made products), together with British producers like Jubb, Bonds, The Model Dockyards, and others, who marketed a considerable range of models for gauge ‘3’.
What was of even greater importance in shaping today's 2½" gauge scene was the influence of former engineman, L. Lawrence. His popular writings, under the pseudonym of LBSC, appeared regularly in the Model Engineer and other journals between the mid 1920s and the 1950s. He produced more designs and construction articles for 2½" gauge, coal-fired locomotives than for any other gauge. Most LBSC designs were based on actual prototypes but were not necessarily finished to scale. With this generous exposure, it is not surprising that many of his engines and their derivatives are still around today, together with older engines by Bassett-Lowke, Carson, and their contemporaries.
Much of today's gauge ‘3’ modelling is being done by members of the Gauge ‘3’ Society. The Society which began on the 28th of April 1990 has now been in existence for nearly 20 years.
The organisation's aims are to encourage interest and participation in building and running scenic gauge ‘3’ model railways, while encouraging friendly co-operation within the membership by means of informal meetings and get-togethers.
There is another, previously established organisation, the National 2½" Gauge Association. This group, however, is essentially interested in passenger-hauling locomotives on a raised, heavy-duty track, often shared with larger ‘model-engineering’ gauges.
The Gauge ‘3’ Society, however, has broader parameters than this. While gauge ‘3’ can easily be operated at ground level, many of the gauge-3 running lines, of which there are a good number in the UK, are built to the comfortable operating height of approximately 3ft, which suits the over-50 crowd, who represent a fair proportion of the current membership. These lines are built for scenic running and do not carry full-size passengers.
To describe Gauge ‘3’ in its present form as a locomotive-based hobby conducted largely by skilled model engineers would no longer reflect the current state of the Gauge ‘3’ hobby. Although many Gauge ‘3’ locomotives are live steam engines, built by model engineers or, in some cases, restored from old Bassett-Lowke or Carson products, and powered by coal, meths or gas, just as many engines seen at Garden-Get-Togethers are likely to be battery electric or 2-rail.
What is still true is that most Gauge ‘3’ modellers, whatever their motive preferences, are usually skilled in the necessary modelling techniques required to build track, signalling, and rolling stock that will operate in a garden environment. Of course there are also Gauge ‘3’ Society members who just enjoy attending model railway meetings in a garden environment.
Historically, Gauge ‘3’ models of standard gauge prototypes were built to a scale of ½" to the foot. Today most are built to a more realistic scale of 17/32" or 13.5mm to the foot. The only standards that must be observed are:
a) the track gauge of 2½" or 63.5mm and b) the standards for wheel measurements. These standards, first established in 1990 and revised in 1992, permit members to run stock on any other members layout at Garden-Get-Togethers without fouling points.
With the growth of Gauge ‘3’ , the availability of carriage and freight stock has improved considerably, and a number of specialist retailers offer a selection of both kits and ready-to-run stock. The majority of live steam locomotives still tend to be built by their owners, or are purchased second-hand, but there is now a growing range of battery electric and 2-rail locomotives available from the retail trade.
Bing and Carette, both Nürnburg-based German toy manufactures, provided locomotives and rolling stock for these standardised gauges, but it was W. J. Bassett-Lowke (who later provided the sole British outlet for German-made products), together with British producers like Jubb, Bonds, The Model Dockyards, and others, who marketed a considerable range of models for gauge ‘3’.
What was of even greater importance in shaping today's 2½" gauge scene was the influence of former engineman, L. Lawrence. His popular writings, under the pseudonym of LBSC, appeared regularly in the Model Engineer and other journals between the mid 1920s and the 1950s. He produced more designs and construction articles for 2½" gauge, coal-fired locomotives than for any other gauge. Most LBSC designs were based on actual prototypes but were not necessarily finished to scale. With this generous exposure, it is not surprising that many of his engines and their derivatives are still around today, together with older engines by Bassett-Lowke, Carson, and their contemporaries.
Much of today's gauge ‘3’ modelling is being done by members of the Gauge ‘3’ Society. The Society which began on the 28th of April 1990 has now been in existence for nearly 20 years.
The organisation's aims are to encourage interest and participation in building and running scenic gauge ‘3’ model railways, while encouraging friendly co-operation within the membership by means of informal meetings and get-togethers.
There is another, previously established organisation, the National 2½" Gauge Association. This group, however, is essentially interested in passenger-hauling locomotives on a raised, heavy-duty track, often shared with larger ‘model-engineering’ gauges.
The Gauge ‘3’ Society, however, has broader parameters than this. While gauge ‘3’ can easily be operated at ground level, many of the gauge-3 running lines, of which there are a good number in the UK, are built to the comfortable operating height of approximately 3ft, which suits the over-50 crowd, who represent a fair proportion of the current membership. These lines are built for scenic running and do not carry full-size passengers.
To describe Gauge ‘3’ in its present form as a locomotive-based hobby conducted largely by skilled model engineers would no longer reflect the current state of the Gauge ‘3’ hobby. Although many Gauge ‘3’ locomotives are live steam engines, built by model engineers or, in some cases, restored from old Bassett-Lowke or Carson products, and powered by coal, meths or gas, just as many engines seen at Garden-Get-Togethers are likely to be battery electric or 2-rail.
What is still true is that most Gauge ‘3’ modellers, whatever their motive preferences, are usually skilled in the necessary modelling techniques required to build track, signalling, and rolling stock that will operate in a garden environment. Of course there are also Gauge ‘3’ Society members who just enjoy attending model railway meetings in a garden environment.
Historically, Gauge ‘3’ models of standard gauge prototypes were built to a scale of ½" to the foot. Today most are built to a more realistic scale of 17/32" or 13.5mm to the foot. The only standards that must be observed are:
a) the track gauge of 2½" or 63.5mm and b) the standards for wheel measurements. These standards, first established in 1990 and revised in 1992, permit members to run stock on any other members layout at Garden-Get-Togethers without fouling points.
With the growth of Gauge ‘3’ , the availability of carriage and freight stock has improved considerably, and a number of specialist retailers offer a selection of both kits and ready-to-run stock. The majority of live steam locomotives still tend to be built by their owners, or are purchased second-hand, but there is now a growing range of battery electric and 2-rail locomotives available from the retail trade.
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